each pair is patterned, cut, and sewn in the USA
from 13.5 oz. American-made Cone denim.

100% cotton

mid rise straight leg

made in USA

imogene has an accommodating hip and larger, wide-set pockets to flatter a woman's curves. straight, stovepipe leg with a 13.5" leg opening.

carrie's grandmother, imogene, had a great personal style, a mix of elegance and practicality. so it's fitting that imogene's namesake jean mixes 1940s traditions, with more feminine styles from the 70s.

the beauty in rigid denim is that, with regular wear, it will conform over time to perfectly fit the contours of your body. to achieve that personalized fit, it is important that the jean fits especially tight from day one.

made with purpose, from fit design to the smallest details. our dream is to create timeless, sophisticated, albeit simple pieces that give you the freedom to express your personal style - clothes that give you further confidence to embrace and celebrate who you are.

each pair of jeans tells a story. as they wear in and fade, your jeans become a part of you. wear often, wash not so often.

visit our denim care for more on how to care for your jeans over time.

we want your jeans to fit you perfectly… period. that's why we offer a free 30-day exchange policy. so go ahead - take your time, try 'em on, and make sure they fit just right. if you need to swap them out for a different size you can send them back at no cost and we’ll ship you another one - as many times as it takes.

all returned merchandise must be unworn, unwashed, and without alterations. visit our returns page for detailed information on our return / exchange policy.

if you are unsure about the fit, size, color, or anything else, feel free to email us at help@imogeneandwillie.com. we're here to help.

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this item was designed with fit specific details.refer to fit and size sections to ensure best fit.

this item was designed with fit specific details.refer to fit and size sections to ensure best fit.

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this item was designed with fit specific details.refer to fit and size sections to ensure best fit.

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as you are reading this, your goods are going into production - and soon will be shipped.

while we will be working day and night to ensure it arrives on time, transparency is imperative - production can fall victim to delays that are entirely beyond our control, which could result in a slightly delayed delivery. we will be sure to keep you up to date if there is any change in the estimated ship date.

all orders are filled on a first come first served basis and will be shipped the moment they are available. orders received on a weekend day will be processed the following business day.

we'll be happy to update you on the status of your item(s). please feel free to contact us any time at help@imogeneandwillie.com.

if your order happens to contain an in-stock item and an extended shipping item(s), the in-stock item will ship within 3 business days of the initial order and the balance of your order will be processed and shipped separately upon its arrival at our warehouse.

orders are charged the full amount of the item(s) at time of purchase. if for any reason you wish to cancel your order of an item with extended shipping, you may do so at any time by contacting us at help@imogeneandwillie.com.

we will notify you via email as soon as your item has been shipped. from that day on, our standard shipping and returns policies apply.

i got my first pair of imogene rigids about eight years ago or whenever carrie and matt started selling them out of their home on Main St. in Henderson, Kentucky.

do you remember the first time you put them on?

yes, we tried them on at carrie and matt's home. i was so excited to finally have a custom pair!

what was your first impression of them?

i thought they were too tight for my body and i really started wondering if carrie had taken my measurements correctly. they were so stiff that i felt like i looked like the tin man trying to walk in them. but she assured me that they would mold to my body and fit me perfectly after a couple of wears.

how long was it before they began to take on your shape?

probably after about four or five times of wearing them.

what do you feel is the most flattering about the fit of imogene rigid for you?

the waistline. it's perfect for me. so many jeans may fit you in most areas but usually the waistline doesn't work. imogene rigid fits me everywhere.

can you describe what you like about wearing rigid denim?

the classic look and the fact that i get compliments almost every time i wear them.

what are the biggest differences you’ve experienced between wearing rigid and stretch denim?

imogene holds your body in place and is much more flattering than stretch denim. they do not stretch out and become droopy. they truly mold to the curves of your body.

what would you tell a woman looking to buy her first pair of rigid jeans?

be patient when getting used to them. they will NOT disappoint. i would trust the staff to fit you even if it's not the size you think you'd wear.

how often do you prefer to wash ’em? (there really is no wrong answer.)

hardly ever... maybe three times a year. and when i do wash them, i NEVER dry them.

what do these jeans mean to you?

they are my favorite, go-to jean. without a doubt, the best fitting jean i've ever worn. i feel lucky to get to wear them and i plan to still be wearing them when i'm 80 years old!

if you were to “title” your imogene rigids as an art piece, what would the title be?

on my first day with the company, July 18, 2013, the manager, alex said it was time to get my first day jeans. he said i would have to choose wisely because he wasn’t going to let me get a second pair until my first ones looked awesome. he suggested imogene rigid.

do you remember the first time you put them on?

once i managed out of pure stubbornness to get them over my thighs, i still didn’t think i could near buttoning them. alex had told me it was totally normal for people to lay down to get the zippers and buttons done, so i did. i heard him asking where i’d gone while i was on the floor of the fitting room holding the pockets together enough to get the zipper done. i yelled out from the floor once i suffered into them and he came over, saying they were perfect.

what was your first impression of them?

i was not convinced, but they looked pretty dang good.

can you describe what you like about wearing rigid denim?

my jeans represent what i’ve been up to for the past three years. all the years of hating jeans was because they were too low and too stretchy and i had finally found jeans to love that would love me back.

the knees broke out first from kneeling on the floor to pin customers in their new jeans. my left back phone pocket has been patched a million times. the right outer thigh is lighter than the rest of the jeans because apparently i wipe everything off there, who knew?! my favorite thing on them is a weird little swoop that broke in on one of the front left whiskers. i do not have them in my hands right now i just know these jeans as well as they know me.

what are the biggest differences you’ve experienced between wearing rigid and stretch denim?

getting into rigid jeans, especially as a woman with hips, thighs, and a butt, can be intimidating, awkward, and uncomfortable. sometimes they can be so tight that you think they’re going to flatten your butt, give you a muffin top, and bruise your hip bones, BUT when you think about all the jeans in your closet that just sit there. or all the jeans you wear once a season so that you don’t have to feel guilty that you spent money on them. or all the jeans that you want to wear all the time, but you can’t because they’re always in the laundry to shrink them. all the weird whiskers and distress marks that don’t match up to anything on Your body.

what would you tell a woman looking to buy her first pair of rigid jeans?

if you decide you will make a commitment to wear rigid jeans for a couple weeks straight, and i do mean at least five days a week for at least a month, you will find that you never want to take them off. you won’t have to. you can wear them with everything, every day. you can take all the time you spend thinking about your wardrobe, whether it’s five minutes a day or an hour, and you can have that time back because you’ll know you look great and feel great.

what do these jeans mean to you?

even though i wasn’t super stressed out about getting dressed every morning, i did have to think about it. these jeans allowed me to develop my personal style in a way that incorporates my personality, which does not want to stand in front of my closet when i could be making breakfast or reading a book.

if you were to “title” your imogene rigids as an art piece, what would the title be?

must have been July of 2009 just when imogene + willie opened on 12th South in Nashville.

do you remember the first time you put them on?

yes, i do. i felt like a stuffed sausage! carrie promised me if i was patient they would stretch and become fitted to my body.

what was your first impression of them?

honestly – ouch. it hurt to wear them at the beginning. then once some room was achieved, i loved them. i felt like a woman – not a teenager trying to wear the latest trend. i loved the size of the back pockets. i loved the way my butt looked in them!

how long was it before they began to take on your shape?

not too long... maybe a month.

what do you feel is the most flattering about the fit of imogene rigid for you?

the butt! the larger back pocket size. i cannot stand jeans with small back pockets.

can you describe what you like about wearing rigid denim?

i like how i must exercise patience and trust they will be better than i expect once they whisker and soften and become fitted to my body.

what would you tell a woman looking to buy her first pair of rigid jeans?

BE PATIENT and trust the folks of imogene + willie to size you properly.

how often do you prefer to wash ’em? (there really is no wrong answer.)

really as little as possible. i’ve long overcome the notion they are not clean – they are just coming into their own the less i wash them. they might get washed 1x every three months. often that means in the tub on my body!

what do these jeans mean to you?

gosh, they mean so many things.

they remind me of the day i met carrie and matt long before the store opened. i remember their infectious generous spirit and their determination to develop a neighborhood jeans shop with soul.

they always bring up feelings of love and loss. michael pontes who is no longer with us loved carrie and matt and they him. for my 40th birthday he set up a custom fitting appointment for me at imogene + willie. that birthday was a time when things were good. a time of sweet love and family. the shop on 12th Ave will always remind me of him and what it looks like to grow a deep friendship and the bond he shared with matt.

if you were to “title” your imogene rigids as an art piece, what would the title be?

honestly, that they were too tight! but i loved the fit. the imogene rise is the best!

how long was it before they began to take on your shape?

not long at all. everyone told me to just wear them - so i did. often. and they started taking on my shape pretty quickly.

what do you feel is the most flattering about the fit of imogene rigid for you?

the butt for sure. imogene rigid sits right over my hips which i love and the back pockets are the perfect size and position for showcasing your curves... i love that.

can you describe what you like about wearing rigid denim?

most every other pair of jeans i own has a little stretch to them. i love my rigid jeans because they become completely yours. you won't see two pairs that look the same. also, once they're worn in, they are super comfy!

what are the biggest differences you’ve experienced between wearing rigid and stretch denim?

the beginning stages are different because a stretch pair will be comfortable right off the bat.

a rigid pair takes time but it’s totally worth it. i've noticed i get more complements on my imogene rigids than any other jean.

what would you tell a woman looking to buy her first pair of rigid jeans?

trust that they will stretch out and become your favorite jeans!

how often do you prefer to wash ’em? (there really is no wrong answer.)

in three years i have washed mine once.

what do these jeans mean to you?

like i said, i love these jeans because they are completely mine. i worked to get them to where they are now and i’m proud of them!

i got my first pair of imogene rigid in September of 2009 - almost seven years ago!

do you remember the first time you put them on?

yes, i remember getting the full history of jeans and selvage and matt and carrie from ian first. then he went over to the metal bins to grab me the stiffest jeans i had ever touched!

what was your first impression of them?

my first impression was that there was no way i’d ever get them over my butt much less button them! after a little coaxing and squeezing i finally got them on!

although they were horribly tight, i could already appreciate the shape and form of the actual jeans. carrie and everyone in the shop that day assured me that they looked great and soon they would feel great too.

what do you feel is the most flattering about the fit of imogene rigid for you?

i think the back pockets and the way they are positioned are the most flattering parts of the imogene rigid. i feel like the back pockets work on ANY body type, and i think it’s the most ingenious design aspect that matt and carrie had in the beginning!

can you describe what you like about wearing rigid denim?

i really do like that they become your own. i feel like rigid jeans just have such a unique shape to them once they form to your body, that is much more ‘set.’ it is hard to describe.

what would you tell a woman looking to buy her first pair of rigid jeans?

i would say trust the process and wear them a lot.

how often do you prefer to wash ’em? (there really is no wrong answer.)

i think in seven years i have maybe washed them seven times at the very most.

what do these jeans mean to you?

for whatever reasons (like the ones mainly in my head – i’ve always thought i had bigger thighs or the length of the jeans was never right), throughout my life i have never found the perfect jeans. i never felt like the jeans i wore were flattering in all areas, until i tried on my imogene rigids. i loved the way they fit my butt and thighs. i loved wearing them in and seeing my own ‘lines’. being able to help matt and carrie in the beginning with different fits, for me was like coming full circle.

if you were to “title” your imogene rigids as an art piece, what would the title be?

“Nashville Rebirth”

this pair of jeans reminds me of a time in Nashville when everything was new again. even though i am not a native, i could still sense something special was happening. there were a handful of artisans and creatives that were doing their thing, making amazing products but also at the same time, they were giving Nashville a new sense of community. it seems like Nashville is changing again, but these jeans will always remind me of that special time when everything was golden.

simply said, rigid denim is denim in its original form, made of 100% cotton. regardless of various “acceptable” definitions of unwashed (e.g. raw vs. rigid), for us - rigid denim has not been washed or treated after being pulled off the loom.

because indigo dyed rigid denim is unwashed, the indigo sits “on top” of the yarn. with time, the dark indigo fades to reveal the white cotton core of the yarn. this allows every abrasion and crease to show with time, developing into a wear pattern completely unique to the individual.

if you are seeking a true fit, the first time you put rigid jeans on, they should be especially tight.

a new pair should feel locked in and secure. keep in mind that this initial tightness will ease off as you wear them, as they will begin to give and take on your shape.

on the other hand, if you prefer a more relaxed fit from day one, they will be stiff at first, but should not be restricting in size.

either way, to ensure you get your desired fit, it is important to consider that rigid jeans relax over time and their form will not stay as they are at first wear. this is the inherent beauty of wearing a rigid jean.

when it comes to washing, there really is no wrong answer. we live by a simple rule: wear often, wash not so often. we’ve seen great jeans that are washed every few weeks or so. we’ve seen beautiful jeans that have never been washed.

visit our denim care guide for a comprehensive guide on how to care for and wash your jeans.